Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Mary Chase papers , 1945-1968
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Chase, Mary, 1907-1981
- Title
- Mary Chase papers
- Dates
- 1945-1968 (inclusive)19451968
- Quantity
- 3 linear feet, (4 containers)
- Collection Number
- Ax 542
- Summary
- Mary Coyle Chase (1907-1981) was born in Denver, Colorado. While working at newspaper and public relations jobs, Chase began to write plays. Her most famous play is Harvey, the story of Elwood P. Dowd and his imaginary, six-foot tall rabbit. Chase incorporated elements of fantasy drawn from Irish folktales into her work, such as banshees and Celtic pookas (spirits in animal form). The collection includes literary manuscripts and correspondence.
- Repository
-
University of Oregon Libraries, Special Collections and University Archives
UO Libraries--SCUA
1299 University of Oregon
Eugene OR
97403-1299
Telephone: 5413463068
spcarref@uoregon.edu - Access Restrictions
-
Collection is open to the public. Collection must be used in Special Collections and University Archives Reading Room. Collection or parts of collection may be stored offsite. Please contact Special Collections and University Archives in advance of your visit to allow for transportation time.
- Additional Reference Guides
-
See the Current Collection Guide for detailed description and requesting options.
- Languages
- English
- Sponsor
- Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Historical NoteReturn to Top
Mary Coyle Chase was born on February 25, 1907 in Denver Colorado. She attended the University of Colorado, and worked for The Rocky Mountain News as a reporter and served as publicity director for the National Youth Administration. Chase was also a playwright and author, her most famous works being the play Harvey and the book Loretta Mason Potts (Mickey). Harvey won a Pulitzer Prize and was made into a movie starring James Stewart, and her book The Wicked Pigeon Ladies in the Garden was nominated for the Dorothy Canfield Fisher award in 1969. She married Robert Lamont Chase (a newspaper reporter), on June 7, 1928. In addition to her career as a reporter, playwright and author she was a member of the Dramatists' Guild and had three sons. She died of a heart attack, October 20, 1981, in Denver, Colorado.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The Mary Chase Papers consist of manuscripts and one folder of correspondence. The manuscripts include various drafts of and related material for plays such as Bernardine, Harvey, and Mickey (the manuscripts of Mickey have the early titles of: Loretta Fanning Potts, Loretta Mason Potts and Loretta). Also included are galley proofs of the book The Wicked Pigeon Ladies in the Garden (no manuscripts of the book are included).
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
| Description |
|---|
| Guide to the Mary Chase Papers |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Playwriting
- Women authors, American--20th century
- Women dramatists, American--20th century
Personal Names
- Chase, Mary, 1907-1981
- Chase, Mary, 1907-1981
Form or Genre Terms
- Correspondence
